Zimbabwe: The Zimbabwe Freedom Charter

THE ZIMBABWE FREEDOM CHARTER

“A NEW ZIMBABWE’

A NATIONAL VISION DOCUMENT PREPARED BY HABAKKUK TRUST

PREAMBLE

We the people of Zimbabwe cherish the ideals of freedom and justice in our quest for a multi racial, multi ethnic society founded upon the principles of fairness, equity, compassion and brotherhood. In our pursuit of freedom we acknowledge the supremacy of God and the dignity of man in a nation, which envisages equal opportunities for all Zimbabweans. We therefore affirm our commitment to this charter, the Zimbabwe Freedom Charter.

SECTION A

GOVERNANCE

1. OUR GOVERNMENT
Our pursuit of freedom shall be expressed in a government, which governs with the consent and participation of the governed .As a nation we cherish and desire a government that governs in the interest of the people. To this end we envision a Zimbabwean nation that enables the country’s citizens to participate in decision-making at all relevant levels. Furthermore we aspire to a form of governance that makes the governing accountable to the governed in a system that vests the people of Zimbabwe with the power to shape their own destiny.

2. THE MEDIA
Our quest for freedom shall be manifested in the right to access to public information and the protection of press freedom.

3. HUMAN RIGHTS
All our people should be afforded fundamental freedoms of assembly, association, thought, worship, movement, and expression. Freedom from arbitrary arrest or detention is a value that we uphold with unwavering commitment. Other fundamental freedoms such as freedom from torture, inhuman or degrading treatment are virtues that shall form an integral part of the governance of the land. Sanctity of human life shall be a non-negotiable tenet of our nation. Political freedom in itself is not adequate and as such we strongly affirm our rights to education, health care, access to water and housing.

4. CORRUPTION
We as a people can never be totally free as long as we are not free from the vice of corruption, which robs our people of access to resources and equal opportunities. We unequivocally condemn this vice and collectively commit ourselves to stamping out corruption at all levels by all means at our disposal.

5. RECONCILIATION, PEACE AND JUSTICE
The people of Zimbabwe will be able to enjoy the fruits of freedom if they are set free from injustices and inhumanities of the past as well as threats of insecurity, war and division which may emerge in the future .The absence of justice will inevitably lead to conflict and insecurity. We therefore commit ourselves to the virtues of justice, truth and reconciliation which will result in peace, stability and unity and reconciliation in the future .We declare once and for all that never again shall any ethnic group be subjected to genocide and discrimination never again should Zimbabweans be oppressed by another Zimbabwean of whatever colour, creed, ethnic origin, social or economic status.

6. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Zimbabwe shall seek friendly relations and co-operation at regional and international levels. The nation shall seek to promote peace, co existence and co-operation with all its neighbours.

THE ECONOMY/RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

1. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
We the people of Zimbabwe anticipate a national economy that allows equal opportunities to all the country’s citizens. Such an economy should be accessible to the bulk of the citizenry and exploit the abundant human as well as material resources the nation has.

2. AGRICULTURE
We recognize the continued importance of equitable distribution of all the nation’s resources including land .As a nation we can never be prosperous unless we utilize our resources to their fullest possible potential. This will enable the nation to feed herself as well as her neighbours. Agrarian development is a key component of national development and its role alongside that of other vital sectors shall continue to be acknowledged.

3. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Our new found freedom can never be complete without utilizing freedom to engage in scientific research which will contribute to advances in technology We envision the establishment of a sound scientific and technological base which will feed into areas such as industry, agriculture, medicine and education. A sound technological base will enable the country to develop competitive products as well as bridge the digital gap. The development of appropriate technology and availability of information technology to a broad spectrum of the populace will be central to the holistic development of the people of Zimbabwe.

4. MINING
Having been endowed with abundant mineral wealth, the nation shall strive to exploit this potential in a sustainable, environmentally friendly manner, which benefits the entire nation.

5. INDUSTRY
We recognise the importance of industry in liberating as from the shackles of unemployment and economic exploitation. Furthermore we realize the central role, which a vibrant industrial sector plays in improving the livelihood of the people of Zimbabwe.

6. TOURISM
We appreciate and value our God given abundance in wildlife, natural habitat and scenic environs. In appreciating the nation’s wealth in natural splendour we seek to pursue the creation of a vibrant tourism sector that shall be a source of income and employment for Zimbabweans. We also envision equitable access to our natural and wildlife resources by both local and foreign tourists.

SOCIAL CONCERNS

7. LABOUR
The working population should be free to enjoy reasonable remuneration, fair labour practices, benefits and rights to express legitimate discontent through whatever avenues are available tothem.

8. YOUTH
Our young people should be given the liberty to develop to their fullest potential in a society, which recognises their role, in nation building. Youths should be able to access recreational and vocational facilities in order to bring about wholesome personal development as well as participation in the broader social, economic and political life of the nation.

9. EDUCATION
We affirm the need of an education system that recognise the peculiar talents, abilities and aptitudes of our people. Education should bring about holistic development of young people and enable them to have skills, which will take them beyond the school set up. In the new Zimbabwe schools will become centres of community focus and development whilst tertiary institutions will become centres of innovation, research, debate and other forms of academic freedom.

10. GENDER
No person should be discriminated upon on grounds of gender but the new Zimbabwean nation shall guarantee equal opportunities socially, economically and politically to both women and men. Decision-making and policy making should be gender sensitive and seek to harmonise relationships between the sexes.

11. CHILDREN
Children should be allowed to grow in conditions, which encourage wholesome growth. They should have the freedom to access basic health care, education and shelter within the framework of a ‘compassionate’ state, which promotes and protects children’s rights. Programmes should be put in place to cater for children living in difficult circumstances.

12. FAMILY/MARRIAGE
The institution of family shall be protected and promoted .All efforts shall be made to ensure that children shall enjoy reasonable family life. Marriage between people of different sexes shall be encouraged and the sanctity of this institution promoted.

13. THE MARGINALIZED/ELDERLY AND DIFFERENTLY ABLED.
The marginalized, elderly and differently abled shall enjoy freedom to access such resources, benefits and facilities that the nation has at its disposal. The rights of widows, orphans, the elderly, the differently abled and the economically disadvantaged should be guaranteed in the country’s supreme law.
14. HEALTH CARE
The true liberty our people shall also find its expression in the provision of adequate health care for the country’s citizens. Provision of primary health care and essential drugs shall be prioritised in the new Zimbabwe. Innovations in medicine and general health care shall be actively encouraged

15. ARTS AND CULTURE
Artistic freedom and cultural diversity shall be actively encouraged, promoted and developed in the new Zimbabwe.

16. SPORTS AND RECREATION
The sporting talent of our nation is vital in the expression of our nationhood and as such we shall endeavour to identify, nurture, nourish and develop sporting skills amongst our people. We envisage a vibrant sports industry, which will enable those so talented to freely exhibit their abilities in an arena at which they are best able to perform.

DECLARATION
We the people of Zimbabwe having declared that these freedoms and virtues are inevitably woven with our collective destiny therefore commit ourselves to tirelessly struggle and work for these ideals side by side as brothers and sisters. The love of our country and our people compels us to appropriate the destiny of our nation .We thus boldly affirm that we shall not allow this great nation to perish but will strive shoulder to shoulder to ensure that this country takes its rightful place in the sun

May God bless Zimbabwe!

* The Habakkuk Trust is a Christian organisation that seeks to influence the transformation of communities through: Advocacy, Research and Information gathering. Core Issues that the organisation addresses are Governance, Social Concerns, Economy and Agrarian Issues and Media Policy / Monitoring.